“What did the president know, and when did he know it?’’

The quote by former senator Howard Baker during the ­Watergate investigation was written on signs and chanted by protesters, and it served as the anchor for speakers at a Boston Common rally that drew more than 200 people Sunday afternoon.

“Of course, [the senator] spoke of a different president in another era, but this question is particularly relevant,’’ said Olivia Hartranft, an organizer, addressing the crowd in front of the Massachusetts State House.

The rally called for an independent investigation into President Trump’s connections to Russia and the claims of the Kremlin’s interference in the election, noting that Trump knew for weeks about his national security adviser Michael Flynn misleading White House officials and Vice President Mike Pence before Flynn was forced to resign.

A man knelt on the asphalt, writing on a sign in blue marker: “Follow the rubles.’’

Behind him in the crowd, others held signs saying: “Putin’s puppet,’’ “Flynn is the tip of the iceberg,’’ and “The Constitution is NOT a suggestion.’’

The rally was organized by Hartranft and other local groups, including Indivisible Metrowest. The group is a local chapter of Indivisible, a national movement that offers “a practical guide for resisting the Trump agenda’’ in which “former congressional staffers reveal best practices for making Congress listen,’’ according to its website.

Shouts of “Russophobia!’’ by a person nearby the rally interrupted a speaker from Indivisible Metrowest, to which attendees responded with chants of “U.S.A.!’’

Noel Sanders, 22, who handed out falafel and baked goods during the protest to raise money for left-leaning nonprofits, attended the rally to represent the “far left’’ despite the “nationalism’’ and “Russophobia’’ that she and two others with her said some of the speakers expressed.

Protesters compared Trump unfavorably to other world leaders.

“Trump is becoming like Chairman Mao [Zedong], so we are worried,’’ said Sue Lai, 48, a Chinese immigrant.

Lai said her young son approached her after the election of President Trump and asked, “Am I safe?’’

“I regret that I didn’t do more before the election to keep [Trump] from winning,’’ Lai said, fighting back tears.

Speakers talked about disparity between the Republican Party they had respected and Trump’s new brand of conservative populism.

“I was born into a world where we called our political leaders ‘Democrats’ and “Republicans’ because they believed in the principles of democracy and the foundations of our republic,’’ said Medha ­Palnati, a 16-year-old junior at Westford Academy, member of the LGBTQ community, and child of Indian immigrants.

But, Palnati said, “America has become complacent. . . . Now we watch as Putin’s [undemocratic] tendencies are adopted by our own leader.’’

Jacquelyn “Jackie’’ Ryan, a member of Massachusetts’ Democratic State Committee who identified herself as the first openly transgender elected official in the state, said she respects Republicans, including Jeb Bush, John Kasich, John McCain, and Lindsey Graham.

“But it’s clear Trump is no ordinary Republican,’’ Ryan said. “He’s using his power to scare people so they don’t ask the tough questions.’’

Speakers and attendees also took issue with Governor Charlie Baker, who was scheduled to visit the White House and meet with Trump and the first lady Sunday evening.

The Republican governor didn’t support Trump’s campaign and has publicly disagreed with the president on issues including his immigration orders, but he also hasn’t attended major anti-Trump rallies in Boston — a fact that led protesters to break out into chants of, “Where’s Charlie Baker?’’

“I think his absence has been duly noted,’’ Hartranft said.

“He knows what to say and when to say it, but that’s all we’re going to get from Governor Baker, unfortunately — words,’’ Ryan said.

Nicole Fleming can be reached at nicole.fleming@globe.com. Amanda Burke can be reached at amanda.burke@globe.com.